Antifriction bearing and associated member



Aug. 19, 1952 s. GILBEIIRT 2,607,642

ANTIFRICTION BEARING AND ASSOCIATED MEMBER Filed Oct. 25, 1946 2SHEETSSHEET 1 INVENTOR I 5HMUEL- E/L BERT ATTORN EY Aug. 19, 1952 5,GILBERT 2,607,642

ANTIFRICTION BEARING AND ASSOCIATED MEMBER Filed Oct. 25, 1946 r 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 INVENTOR SHMUE L E/L B55 7' ATTO R N EY Patented Aug. 19,1952 ANTIFRICTION BEARING, AND ASSOCIATED MEMBER SanmelkGiIbert, CedarGrove; N. J., assignorto Bendix Aviation (hirporation,- Teterb'oro, N.-J a corporation of Delaware Application October 25, 1946;vSerialT.No..705,515

1 Claim. (C1. 308 ,236)" The invention hereof relates to anti-friction.

bearings and members, such as gears, which are supported by thebearings, andjmembers, such as shafts and stationary parts, whichsupport the bearings. v

In fixing anti-friction ball or roller hearings in or onwsuch members,it. hasllongbeemand still is, an extensive practice by .others to stake.at least one raceof a bearing to one of themembers.

Staking the race and the member togetherat ai-plurality of positionsspaced. about-a periphery ofthe race, frequently subjects. therace-.toir

regular distortion, causes unbalance-of the bear: ing and interfereswithiree regular operation of the balls or rollers, whereby theslatterrubwith various degrees of friction. on. race surface parts opposite'thestakepoints. Thisleffectmay vary at-difierent points in onebearing, withthe ef.-.

fects in no two bearingslikely to be the same.

Much trouble-has been,.and still is being, ex-

perienced in prior apparatus from this cause, the

effects ofnwhich. as-cumulative,v as .ina single gear: train having aplurality of anti-friction bearings In .the latter case, the effect istransmitted to the gears, suchthat one geainofthe train may be affected,not onlyby irregularities and unbalance initsbearing; buttbyirregularities and unbalance in" the bearing ofan. associated gear, and1 this effect be transmitted from gear to*gear. throughout the train.Aresult isearly breakdown'of bearings or. gears, or both, withadverseefiects in elements driving the trainand mem-. bers being drivenby the train.

Although the above-mentional disadvantagesare present whereveranti-friction bearings-are employed, as in motors, generators and manyother devices in many fields, in which gears may or may, not beemployed, a. particular example chosen to illustrate the improvements ofthe invention, which overcomethe disadvantages of a single ,formerbearing, and. the cumulative disadvantageouseifects of a plurality ofsuch bearings, is any engine starter for aircraft.

Insuch example, whichisin. a field ,of particularimpprtance, theabove-mentioned disad In. such.

vantages should, of 'course, no-t exist. example also and in otherapplications, the feature of being able to employ old parts over again,

and the time element in, effecting repairs, are also frequently of vitalimportance.

When, for instance, a gearmust be replaced, either'from theabove-mentioned or other cause,

and it may be necessary to reemploy the old mg. portionof the ringformaintaining the bearbearing; providing theoriginal staking has' not tooseriously affected'it, the;bearing must again be staked, tothe new gear,with the still greater possibility of adverse results. The latterexample is given to emphasize ,the fact that-the gear and'the stakedbearing of ;former practice are not readily attachable to and detachablefrom, each other, with as little likelihood of damage to one or theother as by the present invention.

Various devices, have heretofore been suggested for mountinganti-friction bearings'relative'to shafts, gears, stationary supportsand the like, by the employment of rings, such as lock rings, all ofwhich devices, so far as applicant is aware, are-faulty in one wayor'another, rendering them impractical orimpossible of employment in anyof many applications, suchas in the example given.

For instance, it has been suggested to form a groove inthe peripheryof'a' bearing, to place a ring partially'in, and partially protrudingradi ally from'the groove, and to have separable holding means atopposite axial sides of the protruding in fixed axial position; Thisconstruction, by the presence of the. extraseparable holding means;is'rout of the question; forapplications such as that hereinillustrated; by reason of bulk,

Another prior devicezemploys a disc-like member entirelyseparate-andapart from the bearing,

but located beside the latter-as positioning means.-

therefor,- and held by a lock ring, which construction obviouslymultiplies the number of parts,- increases the-size,- weight and cost,and is impractical in many ways for applications as indicated hereinAnother ,-prior-device, embodying asplit lock ringlhavinga laterallybentend at'the-split, re-

quires a relativelylarge.hole-l0cally at a part of the-periphery of amember corresponding in position to agear on the bearing, Suchconstruction, for purposes hereof, would unbalance the bearing.

where the gear is a ring gear having a hubflof small radialrthicknesscompared to the depth of its ,teeth. By. reason ofv the relativelygreater radial space occupied by an anti-friction bearing compared tosuch space where. an anti-friction bearing, is, not employed,ring gearshaving small.

radial hubthickness. relative to the depth ,ofthe teeth are widelyemployed,

A further prior device has,a, split ring, a keyway radially opposite thering split, and a key in excessive number ofparts; cost and otherfactors;

and the gear, and beimpossible oft employment.

the keyway and the ring split. With the keyway, the ring split and thekey all at one local position on the bearing, the device is obviouslyvery badly unbalanced and, although such device may be practical as in aroller skate or other place Where balance is not important, it woulddefinitely'not be effective or employable for the purposes hereof.

Among the objects of the present invention are to overcome all of theabove-mentioned and other disadvantages of prior structures of the classindicated, and to effect such results by novel effective means.

Another object is to provide means, of substantially the utmost insimplicity, for mounting an anti-friction bearing relative to a supportor member as aforesaid, in a manner ensuring practically perfectbalance, avoiding distortion, and enabling the bearing and the supportto be separated without injury to either.

Another object, in cases where severe axial thrust may be imposed inservice between a bearing and its support, is to provide a positivelocking means against such thrust, but which looking means may besheared or destroyed by an axial thrust much greater than such servicethrust, without injury to either the bearing or the support.

Another object, in cases where lighter or substantially no axial servicethrust is imposed in either direction between a bearing and a support,is to provide locking means, such as a lock ring, for effectivelyholding the bearing and the support together against all axial thrustsnormally met in handling or service, and which enables not only thebearing and the support to be separated in either axial directionwithout injury to either, but also preserves the locking ring itselfintact.

Another object, in cases where lighter or substantially no axial servicethrust is imposed in one direction, but where severe axial thrust isimposed in the opposite direction, is to provide locking means foreffectively holding the bearing and the support together against thelighter thrusts, and positively locking the bearing and the supporttogether against the severe thrusts, and which locking means may be ofthe shearing type above mentioned, or of a type providing for separationof the bearing and a support without injury to any of the parts.

Another object is to facilitate the repair and replacement of parts ofassemblies, in which at least one of the parts is an anti-frictionbearing, and another part may be a ring gear, a shaft, and an annularstationary or rotatable member around a rotatable or stationary shaft orthe like.

Another object is to provide an improved engine starter, especially ofthe aircraft type, or for other service where rapidity of replacementand repair of its parts may be necessary.

Another object is to provide a device of the above-indicated characterthat is simple and durable in construction, economical to manufacture,and effective in its operation.

These and other objects and features of the invention are pointed out inthe following description in terms of the embodiment thereof which isshown in the accompanying drawing. It is to be understood, however, thatthe drawing is for the purpose of illustration only, and is not designedas a definition of the limits of the invention, reference being had tothe appended claims for this purpose.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view generally in section, but havin parts inelevation, of a portion of an inertia starter for an aircraft automotiveengine:

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail section of one of several ring gear andbearing structures shown in Figure 1, in which a lock ring is carried bythe outer race of a bearing prior to assembly with the gear;

Figure 3 is a side elevation, parts broken away, of the structure ofFigure 2;

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a modification of the structure ofFigure 2, showing a lock ring carried by a gear or a stationary support,and a bearin in position for insertion into the gear and having a groovein its outer race to receive the lock ring;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 of a modification of thestructure thereof, showing a shaft having an outer groove to receive alock ring carried in a groove in the inner race of a bearing;

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing another modification ofthe invention;

Figure 7 is a view similar to the top portion of Figure 2 of anothermodification of the invention;

Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 showing another modification;

Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 7 illustrating the invention infurther modified form;

and

Figure 10 is a view of the structure of Figure 9, together with parts ortools associated therewith, in relation to each other during theassembly of the structure of Figure 9.

Referring to Figure l, which shows only a portion of an inertia startersufficient for an understanding thereof, the portion shown comprises, ingeneral, a jaw member ID adapted for axial movement by a meshing rod l2against the action of a spring 9, and through the intermediaryof a screwshaft l4 and a sprin l5, into engagement with an engine jaw element IS.

The jaw member NJ has a hollow shank portion I 8 journaled in an axiallystationary rotatable nut 20 surrounded by an oil seal ring device 22 inan end member 24 of a housing portion 26 having cooperating flanges 28and 30, respectively, secured to an engine casing 32, as by studs 3%,and between which flanges 28 and 30 is a ring 36.

The screw shaft l4, surounding the rod l2 in the nut 20, is connected tothe latter, by long lead screw threads, and to the shank l8 by a splineconnection 41). A shoulder 42 on the shaft I4 is adapted to engage ashoulder 44 on the nut 20 whereby to lock with the latter for turningthe jaws I0 and I6 after the latter are engaged.

A torque limiting friction disc pack 46 is disposed around the nut 20 ina barrel 48 between a flange 50 of the nut and an end closure 52 of thebarrel spaced from the right hand end thereof as shown. A ring nut 54,in the opposite end of the barrel 48, acts through a plurality ofhelical springs 56 and the nut flange 50 to urge the nut 29 and the pack46 to the right, against the closure 52, for adjusting the frictionbetween discs of the pack, which are splined to the barrel {2-8 and thenut 20, respectively. The barrel 48 1s journaled in the housing portion26, as by bearings 58 and 60, respectively.

A sealing device 62 prevents the passage of 011 from the casing 32through the seal from the left, and prevents particles released byfriction rin gears. 68;. which en a e taniprbita vgeamrpor.-" m;

tion meof; therhousing portion-afli radially oute wardly;thereof,'fandasumgeanportiomfl radiaily inwandly;:thereof journaledi m:aetrunnion-vexa tension-'14 pithet,closuresih. The sunsgearspp ze tion:I 2 carriesa: plate 'I 6 (having ::trunnions a1 8 10 supporting,anti-friction :bearings 80., on ywhichcs are mountedaplanet gringpgearsn81 rwhichwengage the orbital z'gearr III- radiallyroutwardly thereoifl,and a sun gear 82 radially inwardly thereof alse? journalemonntheextension-J4; The =sun;gearg82 15.

carries-a plateifikhaving tr-unmonsiiifitsupp t ing; anti-friction 7bearings-3: 88;; 0B2: which. area mountedrplaneh ringpgearse 90;?yvhiclraengage :anze other onbitalegearztl2-Iradiallygputwardlythereofr.,

andasurr gear-,Mpn a,motorsarmatnreshafitwSB-i The orbital gearr;9Z:is::supporteda= on; a partition: I00, betweenthe-:housingmortiOiT:26'jand ashousv ing portion I02, whichpartitionesupportsrgthe shaft 96; by, an :anti-f-riction'rbearing IIl4.-An

inertia membere-orf. flywheel I 06 vis rsecuredto the 5,25

shaft -96, v Inpperation, when theimotor is energlzed after rodv PI 2,isoperated itoethe-left against the action I 5; Atthe.sametime themotonis. deenergized, whereupon, the-energy. ofetheflywheeltl 86, open-,-ates,-.through. the gears above describedsto rotate the ,barrel .148.The latter operates throughzthe dis'epack' 4B,.to turn the .nut20..whereupon,-; since 3.3

the shoulder ,42 has engagedtthe shoulderlu the jaws I II and, I 6 Tarerotated tostart L.the:.engine.,, When the .jawsarethus ,rotatedxltdstart. .theaenr, gine, thev pack ,46 absorbs, the, starting shock,

pared itozthe depth-Def,itsrteethe Witlrathe soberviouslygandznecessarilycrowded.conditionsrofrthe, partsrimtheexamplegiyen;it;would:be impossible: to employ any formerstructuretwhichmutszout any; appreciable ED911117 locally:onrthez-peripherywof the ybearinggor the ;zgear-,-whichrmighticauseezunw balance whjereby-pn. test; either thebearing, or'thegear. or the 3' assembly thereof; would :1 quickly, come to rest ,attheisameapoint after :repeatedispinningsa Aecordingly,- in 1- thisinstance; thecoutersraees I I o-iofethes bearing;-:8II :isaprov-idedwithcamouterw annulamgroove -I I 2;which is closed atieachaxialirside;entirelyfthereabout; Also;insqthisrinstancep- .3 sincegtherace-isradially thinnerat its axial. can-1 tersopposite-ballsw-I I4;- in-thisinstance'athe grooyew' H2 is placedvat a radially'thickei"part'z-offthef race axiallyaside the axifllicenterClr,

The :gear :8 I-,- having-its axial centerzcoincident. with thecorresponding centerof :the-.beari-ng r80; andebeingqot substantially;the same-axial-yextent or width, is; provided with a; complemental;grooved I 6 of substantially half 1 the area of thee bearing groove II2, obtained by making the lat-s ter; substantially twice' as ,deep,with the groove I I 6 in axially centered relation jtO'; the groove;- II2. The-groove I IB-isalso closedvat jeach-waxialti side entirelythereabout. 4

The -,outer race .I I 0 is; in this instance; also 30f a-ttype in whichthe diameter-is initiallyover:

sizedybyzabout -twenty-:-fiveten-thousandths of an inch,v inwhichconditions, the-racesurface is not in proper relation to the balls-I I4:When theraee is-tpressefitted into .thegear 8 I; the-Trace surfaceassumes its proper position, this featurebeingy cited to illustrate thefine-'-considerationsienterg ing; into apparatus of the type zfor which;the

Present invention: istintended, as against w other; apparatus.inewhichisuch considerationsaare not,

whether the resistance. be, temporary; or; perm me-sent.

manent, and if "the 1 engine, backfiresgthe, pack similarly absorbs theshock,

After the engine starts,..if "the meshingyrod; I 2 is :stillmaintainedjat "the ,left "against theaction oftheispring ilpthe enginejaw I8overridesthe.v jaw: 'I 0"against the ,action .-.of withe springJ5;v and: uponrelease of the rodjl 2, the ,engine'jaw I 6 Icams, thestarter jaw III, andjthewspring,Siactuatesthe: rod "1 Z'Zto returnthescrew shaft-il4ttorthe initial,

right-hand position shown, .in ,atusual ,Smanner.

If ,eachof theuplanetr ring gears 68, 8| and 90, of which, in thisinstance, there are nine in all, had thecorresponding;antidrictionrbearings E8, 80 and 88 staked in place, itmay bereadilyune derstood what the cumulative unbalance and damagingeffect might be, with some of the bearings having: theufr'ie'ti'onrubbing effect, above mentioned, in more or less synchronous or-yaddi:tiveerelation and others having theirictiorr'effecti atother-points inthe cycleeof operationrg Ther vention hereof is proposed, and comprisesone form, as indicated in Figure 1, in association with each of thebearings 66, 80 and 88. This one form is illustrated in detail, inFigures 2 and 3, in connection with one of the bearings 80, and its ringgear 8I having small radial hub thickness T com- A=-resilient ring, I I8which in the (form; ,of Fig; uresl, 2 and -3,.is ,a split ring, ofrectangular stocka'. conforming to the-areas of the grooves -=I I 2and;E I I 6,1isinitially expanded and'allowecl to contract into .thegroove I I 2 r to its normal I relaxedcondi tion,,.in which, its inner.-diameter issomew-hat less-r. than the outer diameter:of-the.-outer-"-race -l I01 When the-bearing -is axially thrustinto-rattlegearrBI'r asrfrom therright as viewed-:iniigure 2, 1, slight {roundsonrbevels I 20 and l 22,- on the ;-.gear;;. Bland thebearing. -80,respectively; facilitate the;- entry, oft-the .bearing-iinto .the gear,and alsogther contractionof the ringrI I8 farther into the-g1;op,ize;vII2.-l, Standardgbearings"and,gearsuof the types; shown aregenerallyformed with such? roundslor bevels, which -may-: be enlargedvif cnecessary ---for certain, applications; The: ring II8:.:mayxalso::be'r contracted by'hand orby a-tool or'machinez-x Thering itself may-further, be provided with asslightv roundgor .bevel Ifor 'thersameepurposer When: --the.bearing 8 0 lSwthIllSt to; the-.posi-tio1r 1 of ,Figure: 2,. on whenwthe --bearing is :oppositelyrsogthrust, the contracted ring, jl I 8 {automaticallyexpands partiallyinto the groove IIB, to have substantially half of its radial thicknessin each of the grooves H2 and I I6. Also, the split I24 of the ring II 8is preferably chosen such as to constitute a substantially minimum gapwhen the ring is contracted into the groove H2, and to be only slightlylarger when expanded to operative position, this feature contributing tothe effective balance of the assembly.

With the parts in the positions thereof in Figure 2, the bearing 88 andthe gear 8I are locked together against substantial force in eitheraxial direction, and the materialsof the' parts deter-1 mine whethersuch lock is permanentmr whether the bearing and the gearmay'be'separated With-' out damage to either. v

With the bearing 80, the gear BI and the ring I I8 all of material ofcomparable hardness, such as steel, the lock is permanent, in'which casethe parts may'probably not be separable without damage to at leastone'ortwo of them. i w

With the bearing 80 and the gear 8| of hard materials, such as steel,andthe ring I I8 of relatively softer material, such as soft steel orbronze,

axial force may be applied, between the bearing andthe gear, sufiicientto shear the ring, whereby to separate the bearing and the gear withoutinjury to either, and to provide for the reassembly assembly, and thatit may be carried by the support 8| before the assembly, instead of onthe bearing, with the ring grooves correspondingly modified and related.V

Figure fi'il lustrates that the inner race I26 of the bearing; and notthe outer race IIO, may carry the ring for cooperation with a groove I2!in a shaft I281 The inner and outer races could, of I course, each carrya ring.

Figure 6 illustrates that the shaft I28 may carry the ring II8 forcooperation with a groove I29 in the inner race I26. 1

Figure 7 extends the ideas of the previous struc tures in'that the ringI I8, may beof the perma-' nent type and provided with a portion I30 ofsubstantially wedge-shape fitting a groove of corresponding shape in thesupport or gear 68. With the latter structure, the parts may be heldagainst axial separation under substantial axial force,

and be separated under greater axial force, when the axial side surfacesof the portion I30 and the groove are on the order of forty-five degreesor less, to the horizontal, as shown.

Figure 8 furthers the idea of Figure 7, in that I the ring -I I8 mayhave a portion I32 beveled at one axial side and radially straight atthe other axial side, in which case, the bearing 66 may be inserted intothe member 68 from the right, prevented from'withdrawal to the right,withdrawn to the left, and otherwise have characteristics similar'tothose of the structure of Figure 7.

Figure 9 indicates that the ring II8 may be of round rim' section, withone or both of the grooves of corresponding or different shape. The ringI I8, in Figure 9, or in any of the forms of Figures 1 to 6, inclusive,may be a solid split ring, as shown in Figures 1 to 6, or a completecontracting helical garter spring, as indicated in Figure 9, made up,as'of helical turns, and having no split corresponding to thesplit I24.The ring of Fig' ure 9 may be of the shear or removable type.

Figure 10 illustrates a'manner of inserting the contracted ring I I8 ofFigure 9 in the outer groove I I6, in which a sleeve I34 and a cone I36are first passed through the gear 8| to the right while in the relationto the relaxed ring I I 8 shown, and followed by the bearing 80, duringwhich movement the ring I I8 is expanded into the groove'l I 6 and heldthere until the groove II2 attains register with the groove I I6,whereupon the spring I I8 contracts to the'intermediate state of tensionin the groove I I2 gripping the bearing 80, shown in Figure 9.

Although several embodiments of the invention have been illustrated anddescribed, various changes in the form and relative arrangements of theparts, which will now appear to those skilled.

in the art, may be made without departing from the scope of theinvention. Reference is, therefore, to be had to the appended claim fora definition of the limits of the invention. I

What is claimed is: I

-In a gear adapted for high speed rotation relative to a supportingshaft of the type including a V centrifugally balanced annular toothedportion having an internal annular groove at one side of V the axialgear center, an anti-friction bearing having at least an outer housing,said outer housing being adapted for a press'fit with said gear andhaving; a complemental exterior annular groove adapted for axiallycentered register with said internal groove when said toothed portionand bearing are in an operative position, par:

ticularly characterized by both of. said grooves being entirely enclosedon each sideto form a completely enclosed annular channel, said exteriorgroove being of substantially the-same width and twice as deep as saidinternal groove, a

ing and said gear under a force insuflicient to injure said bearing orsaid gear.

' SAMUEL GILBERT.

I REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent: I V

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,051,704 I Harris Aug. 18, 19362,198,376 Cederberg Apr. 23, 1940 2,273,772 Pollitz Feb. 17, 19422,363,412 Gossling et al. Nov. 21, 1944 2,374,990 Gilbert May 1, 1945

